Moisture Trays????

[Faz]

As a new person to orchids, and growing inside in the winter, I use trays filled with stones and add water to keep moisture around my orchids. I have noticed that the trays are collecting algae at the bottom of them. What do you guys do other than removing all the stones and washing out the tray and stones? . Is there an additive I can use or is it the old remove and wash routine?
Also what do you guys use as moisture trays?

Thanks for any suggestions......Faz.

[Ross]

I never use use moisture trays myself. I have found that with my orchids and central heat up in Northern Michigan in winter the humidity can dip to the 30% level. None of my orchids suffer from this. I do use a drip tray to catch the runn-off from watering. It is a custom made acrylic unit made to my specifications from First Class Aquatics LLC - Custom Acrylic Aquariums, Vivariums and other reef related equipment. Hope this helps.

[boytjie]

Originally Posted by Faz

As a new person to orchids, and growing inside in the winter, I use trays filled with stones and add water to keep moisture around my orchids. I have noticed that the trays are collecting algae at the bottom of them. What do you guys do other than removing all the stones and washing out the tray and stones? . Is there an additive I can use or is it the old remove and wash routine?
Also what do you guys use as moisture trays?

Thanks for any suggestions......Faz.

You could use Physan, or save yourself some bucks and just add a bit of bleach to the water in the trays. It keeps the algae right down. I found that I only really have to scrub the trays once every month or two.

[mayres]

I use long plastic trays 6X24 or 6X30 that are sold as pot trays for window boxes. You can find them, among other places, at Lowes, Home Depot and like places. I fill with pea gravel. By using a hygrometer I've noted that it raises the local humidity around my plants by about 10%. As noted - just add a few drops of bleach to some water when you add it to the trays and this will clear out your algae quickly.

[Faz]

Originally Posted by mayres

I use long plastic trays 6X24 or 6X30 that are sold as pot trays for window boxes. You can find them, among other places, at Lowes, Home Depot and like places. I fill with pea gravel. By using a hygrometer I've noted that it raises the local humidity around my plants by about 10%. As noted - just add a few drops of bleach to some water when you add it to the trays and this will clear out your algae quickly.

Thanks everyone for their suggestions......Great help. I'll try some of these ideas.

Faz.

[cirillonb]

I use humidity trays beneath all my orchids. When I refill them I use a Physan-20 solution 1 tablesp(15ml) per gallon(4liters). Every few months, when thing get too crummy I drain and scrub them out. They never grow algae but overflows, ambient dust, etc can make a mess (altho not a smelly mess)
Nick

[paulemar]

I've used both Physan 20 and bleach. Both will work, but I prefer the Physan for maintenance and the bleach for cleaning the gravel and trays when I put the plants outside for the summer. I also use boot trays with the pea gravel for my indoor humidity trays. They are available from the link below and come in several sizes.

Boot Trays buy from Gardener's Supply

[quiltergal]

You could also ditch the gravel and put sheets of that white plastic grid used for flouro lighting over the top of the trays. You can buy it at Lowes or HD. It's much easier to keep clean without the gravel.

[Faz]

Originally Posted by paulemar

I've used both Physan 20 and bleach. Both will work, but I prefer the Physan for maintenance and the bleach for cleaning the gravel and trays when I put the plants outside for the summer. I also use boot trays with the pea gravel for my indoor humidity trays. They are available from the link below and come in several sizes.

Boot Trays buy from Gardener's Supply

That is an excellent idea, , that's what is great about this Orchid Board.

Many thanks.....Faz.